If you're going to be an above-average team in this league, you've got to be able to consistently beat below-average teams. Which is exactly what the Nationals have been doing this week to the obviously struggling Cubs. They've won the first three games of this series (albeit each by one run) and tonight have a chance to finish off a four-game series sweep.

Livan Hernandez (who has been excellent his last two starts) takes the ball for the Nats. He'll face Matt Garza, who was a potential trade target of the Nationals over the winter and has been OK (but not great) for Chicago.

Couple of changes to the Nats' lineup tonight. Laynce Nix takes a seat, perhaps to rest his sore Achilles' tendon, so Roger Bernadina slides to left field and Rick Ankiel starts in center. Ivan Rodriguez is behind the plate, giving Wilson Ramos the night off.

In other roster news: The Nationals have officially secured optional waivers on Collin Balester. He's reported to Class AAA Syracuse, and he's back on the 40-man roster.

After reading all the discussion the last couple of weeks about the team's offensive woes, I found this article by Tom Verducci of SI pretty interesting. Just remember, we are not alone in this drought. Pitching is better, defense is better, PEDs are rarer, and hitting will suffer.

IMHO Pudge, because of experience, can do more in handling a pitcher than WilRam, particularly noted when working with our resident magician, Livo The Great. But I like WilRam's bat—when he's not missing bunting signs and threatening AllStar Mickey Morse's life.Gooo Vulcans! May the Gorse be with you! Live Wrong and Prespire!Gooooooooooo Nats!

I love Livo, because he is one of those players who shows every day how much he loves the game. But the more I see him pitch the more he mystifies me. Just how does he get batters out? It looks like he is just playing catch out there. Just tossing the ball back and forth. He never seems to have fantastic stuff; his control is fine but he doesn't seem to have laser precision; and of course he never blows anyone away with his speed. And yet he often walks away with a win against teams with very good hitters. So — seriously — can someone explain what is going on when Livo pitches?

Ramos has been on an absolute tear this homestand, raising his average from .235 to .254 in just 5 games.He's slashed .438/.526/.750 giving him an OPS of 1.276 to go along with 2 2Bs, 1 HR and 5 RBI. He's also managed to take 3 BBs while only giving up 1 K.I know you've got to keep Pudge in there, but as long as Ramos is this hot, I'd like to see that limited to day games after night games. I also think he should be batting ahead of Werth for the time being in the 5/6 hole.

Anon at 5:06 is right. AND he is unflappable. AND he wants to win. Not just the game, but every pitch. He puts it out there and if you hit it, you win. If you don't he (we) wins. He has been quoted often as saying every pitch is it's own event (I am wildly paraphrasing here) and he isn't pitching a game as much as he is pitching THIS ball and then THIS ball. Except, for a strike, not a ball. Unless he wants to send you chasing some trash, in which case, it's for a ball. He is wiley, our Livo. And I also just LOVE when Pudge catches him. Livo is like the Yoda of pitching to me. And Pudge is the Yoda of catching.OKAY! GYFNG!!!!

Nats Outsider wrote: I love Livo, because he is one of those players who shows every day how much he loves the game. But the more I see him pitch the more he mystifies me. Just how does he get batters out? It looks like he is just playing catch out there.Indeed, it does look like he's just playing catch!I once heard somebody say that for pitching there are three elements: (a) speed; (b) location; and (c) movement — and that a good pitcher just needs to be good at two of them. My sense is that Livo is (obviously) good at (b) and (c). Another aspect not necessarily in that list of three is: variability of speed. Livo's 83 mph fastball is no big deal — unless it comes after a 59-mph big-bender curve.Livo's is a real artist out there.

@NatsLady: If the Yanks want Burnett, I'd personally drive him up I-95 to the Bronx, and pay the tolls. No offense to the guy, but I just don't understand how he gets anybody out. That sweeping curve can be laid off and often is not a strike any way. And his fastball is, what, 91 at best? I just don't think he makes a good LOOGY, and his confidence appears shot by now. Move him, and just call that Milledge-Gascanrahan trade a loss, and write it off. If the Yanks are offering any prospect, I'd take it. A good Yankee prospect is probably better than a fourth-rate LOOGY at this point. See Clipper, Tyler. How's that worked out for us?GYFNG. The broom is between my bottles of bourbon and Maalox.

ESPN is reporting that former Expos manager (amongst other clubs) Dick Williams has passed away. He was 380-347 (.523) while with the Expos from 77-81. Ended up managing for 21 years in the majors, ending up with a 1571-1451 (.520) record.Condolences to his family and friends.

If the Yanks want Burnett, I'd personally drive him up I-95 to the Bronx, and pay the tolls. No offense to the guy, but I just don't understand how he gets anybody out.With Slaten on the DL they went out and signed JC Romero to go with Hall (former Brave) and good ol' 40-man roster place holder Athualpo Severino. There be your potential LOOGY replacements. And you ask why Davey wanted Detwiler who sports a power left-handed arm in his bullpen? There's Milone, true but he has been a starter, projects to be a starter and made the IL All Star team for the last place Chiefs as a starter. He is a left-handed starter and a potential Lannan replacement should a beneficial trade appear with a team … well such as the Yankees who might just be interested in an effective left-handed starter? Doh!

Friends, may I ask a MASN question?Who the heck is this Mel Antonen person? At the very end of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Report, right before they threw it to the baseball games, he suddenly got all snotty about the Nats' attendance.Uh, Mel, did you check the Orioles' attendance over the past 10 years?

What he was saying, actually, was that he couldn't believe the Nats only drew 19K and change when the Cubs were in town.Phil Wood tried to tell him that it was a very hot night, mid-week, etc., but Mel would not be deterred.I guess he's used to the ballpark being taken over by fans of the higher-profile teams, like you said.

@Dave–Mel Antonen must be one helluva guy. You are talking about none other than the featured speaker at at the 2009 B’nai B’rith Sportsman of the Year Banquet in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.No, I am not making this up Obviously, his opinions are to be regarded with great respect.

If I didn't have to work for a living, I'd be down at the park right now watching Livan do those long throws getting ready. Here's my song again: clearly he's the ace of this staff, and the class act of this club. And the guy who knows the most baseball. So evident, even in spring training, when he always had a posse of young players around him. [You've all heard me babble on before on this topic.]

Maybe the Cubs fans didn't represent midweek. I mean, y'know, seeing how well their team is playing, maybe they're just waiting for the Astros. Went on their site, boy, you want to hear some trashing of the manager and GM??? Whooo.By the way, posters on their MLB site say they have the highest payroll in the NL. Is that true?

Speaking of attendance, the Nats are averaging 23,438 per game this year, which is 56.5 percent of capacity and 21st in the majors. Not great, but it is almost 2,000 fans per game more than the Orioles, who are averaging 21,751, 47.9 percent of capacity, and puts them in 25th place out of 30 teams.The Phillies are number 1, which is no real surprise, but they are averaging over 100 percent of official capacity, and that did surprise me.http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance

Nats Outsider said… Speaking of attendance, the Nats are averaging 23,438 per game this year, which is 56.5 percent of capacity and 21st in the majors. Not great, but it is almost 2,000 fans per game more than the Orioles, who are averaging 21,751, 47.9 percent of capacity, and puts them in 25th place out of 30 teams.The Phillies are number 1, which is no real surprise, but they are averaging over 100 percent of official capacity, and that did surprise me.http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance July 7, 2011 7:04 PM _________________________________The Nats are getting a bigger true home crowd which is impressive than any other season where visitors always had a large percentage. The Orioles are still a home away from home for the Red Sox and Yankees so their numbers will always be distorted more than Washington which is a home away from home for the Phoolies and no longer drawing big for the Mets.

@Tim, to be fair, that link you gave is to a post from April.I wonder how Livo's legal thing's going, but I figure no news is good news.Sorry to see Jayson strike out, but he just is not a .220 hitter. He is going to break out. I look forward to after the All-Star break.

Garza looks sharp tonight. Those sliders to Morse and Werth in the 1st were quality pitches. Very few righties will hit sliders executed that well, especially when his FB is 96-97. Livo looks sharp too. You know, unlike most of you, I am not a big Livo fan. I appreciate what he does, but usually I would prefer to read a magazine while he does it. However, the value that he has given the Nats over the last two years, meaning performance for the contract, is probably the highest in the majors (for a non arbitration level guy). Well done, Big Guy.

@Dave and Outsider, Many transplanted residents to DC, Mel included, fail to grasp that this is the number one vacation week, and neither a Cubs or first Lady visit will help or hinder.Mel was a baseball beat writer for years until digital replaced print. I also trust that if you were asked to speak at an event back in your home town you would show up too.Mel is not an O's man, he is a baseball man, and if you can ever get the chance to sit down and talk ball with him you will enjoy the time.If you haven't guessed he is also a friend and if you give him any more grief, I will come up there. Don't make me come up there! GYFNG!

The Reds had a 8-0 lead yesterday and had to win it in extras against the Cardinals so while it looks like a laugher, not much is this early in the game. 6 more innings to go and it would be nice to see a complete game large margin win by Livan since this is his last game before the All Star break.

JaneB,Way late on this, but "He is wiley, our Livo" is exquisite. if someone to make t-shirts bearing the phrase, I'm buying.And a belated thanks for the eloquent 4th of July post. The NatinBeantown family made it down for a wonderful weekend in DC, including my first trip to NP in a long time. There is something quite wonderful in that ballpark, way up in the 400 level concourse, third base side. There's a refreshing breeze. To your left is a great view of the Capitol Dome. The field spreads out before you, and beuond the RF stands you see the big ships in the Anacostia by the Navy Yard. I now think NP is quite underrated.But enough about that. Bourbon and brooms sound great!

@dj in FL, I actually usually like Mel when I see him on that (rather clumsily produced) Sports Report show.It was very odd today the way he stuck in that bit about the lousy Nats attendance. They were literally going to commercial–Tom Davis was literally trying to shut the show down, and pretty much had to ride right over him.I've been away from the computer during the last few innings. This seems to be that high-offense laugher that Davey Johnson has been looking for. Win this one, boys, and take the skipper's record above .500!GYFNG!

So, I guess we figured out the Nats offensive struggles. Mark's ability to get press pool photos meant he never left the box. Perhaps you should continue to leave the box for an inning or two here and there to help the team?

8:43 p.m. — Meanwhile, in Harrisburg tonight, Chien-Ming Wang put forth another strong rehab effort. Five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, with two strikeouts and no walks. Only needed 43 pitches, and he topped out at 92 mph. So his totals over three rehab starts now: 12 ip, 7 h, 2 er, 2 bb, 7 k. I think it's probably safe to say now we're going to see this guy in D.C. by the end of the month. Pretty remarkable when you think how little progress he had made over the course of 1 1/2 seasons. ___________________________Whoa whoa whoa, stop the presses. Our NatsJack told us to basically put a fork in this guy and send him packing.Isn't that why we play the game?

Tim said… Bob Carpenter said it… the Cubs are mailing it in. Mike Quadey is history. No hustle. Heads are gonna roll. July 7, 2011 9:00 PM _____________________________Far from over. I see bases loaded out there and a 7 run lead now.Heed the words that Anon8 said from Cincy last night.

Anonymous8 said… The Reds had a 8-0 lead yesterday and had to win it in extras against the Cardinals so while it looks like a laugher, not much is this early in the game. 6 more innings to go and it would be nice to see a complete game large margin win by Livan since this is his last game before the All Star break. July 7, 2011 8:27 PM ______________________________Truer words weren't spoken until Bob Carpenter said what you said about 5 minutes ago.

I just want us to get out of this inning right now.I hope we can put few more runs on the board so Storen does not have to pitch tonight. Most likely he will not pitch either way, even in a save situation.

So I get home from work and the score is 8-0.Samardzija's here and the time is rightfor dancin' in the street.I visit with my wife for a few minutes, turn on the game and it's 8-6. What the hey?????So much for Davey's laugher. Here we go again.

Hey DC Wonk!!!!! No hate on Livo hes been fine all year but Burnett has just been plain bad every other time he takes the mound. You cannot tell me that I need to lay off of him. DO you want me to lay off of Werth?? Hell why not say Doug Slaten is the best left handed specialist in the league?

Hilarious! I am sorry but I find this game funny. I mean someone said it before (where I forgot) that our pitchers do not know how to pitch in a blowout games. This game is just another example.Before I went to eat, I imagined this whole Burnett scenario. Came back and checked that it came true. Just pathetic.

Man NOW they are in a funk …….could not miss and now can not hit ……what in the world was Davy thinking leaving Livo in that long ……I think the heat got to him …but how can you lose a 8 RUN LEAD !!!!!!!

OK, i'll take the tie at this point. An aside – what's the deal with Carpentet getting all over Werth's case? Has he decided to go for instant credibility by trashing him, or is he posessed by Dibble? He totally misrepresented the Boz piece. FP keeps trying to reel him back in. What gives?

Ribuld said… Did Davey fall asleep? July 7, 2011 10:25 PM _________________________Davey fell asleep when the score was 8-3 and 2 men on base with DeWitt pinch hitting. It would have been nice to see Davey walk to the mound before that.This team can't do anything the easy way.

I rarely call for change but Matt Stairs has proven time and again that it has passed him by. I am not sure who could take that spot since I realize we want to keep our young people playing and not sitting on the bench but there has to be a better option.

I'm not understanding why you put Stairs in there over Cora, a contact hitter, who's coming in anyway to replace Desmond. This was the most pathetic game of the season, by far. Hopefully they can shake this off and come back tomorrow but personally, I'm fuming.

Note to Stairs. Hit the ball to the outfield and the game is tied. You see how Bernadina did it? Davey wanted offense, and got it (except in the 9th when a fly ball could tie it). However his pitchers quit on him tonight.

Grandstander said… I'm not understanding why you put Stairs in there over Cora, a contact hitter, who's coming in anyway to replace Desmond. This was the most pathetic game of the season, by far. Hopefully they can shake this off and come back tomorrow but personally, I'm fuming. July 7, 2011 10:41 PM _________________________________You hit it correctly. Cora should have come in. You need contact.I asked the question when HenRod came out for innning #2, where was Clippard and Storen?

Great defense tonight, a ton of clutch hits. The pitching and bullpen stunk and to get that effort from Stairs at that point in the game just was a shame.The 8 position players that started the game deserved better than that but on the other hand the pitchers have won most of these games this year.

This is just sad. Should have won this one. No excuses, just embarrassing loss. You can blame Desmond for not adding more insurance runs in that third inning (no outs and two runners in scoring position), or Davey for bringing in Stairs, or HRod for giving up two runs in two innings. Anyways, let us just move on. Hopefully we can do better against the Rockies.

Gonat, I am with you. This was a terrible job of managing by Davey. If Riggleman would have sent Stairs in instead of Nix or Cora he would just be roasted in the media. This loss will take its toll. Nats will get swept by Rockies. Jason Werth should be batting 8th.

The wrong batter was up. You are correct a contact hitter like Cora should have been up. With the count 2-1. That would be when you could pinch hit for Stairs. As bad as the pitching was tonight the one that got me the maddest was Coffey. He pulled the pet peeves of pet peeves to me. 0-2 count, and then he nibbles his way to a walk (that ends up as run 7). Hits bother me much less than walks.

Anon @10:54, thanks for agreeing with me but you have to play the games this weekend and we will see how the team rebounds this weekend.I think they will beat up on the Rockies. It is great having Michael Morse back in the lineup as he really adds so much.

If I see Matt Stairs PH again I will put my hat and jersey away and shut it down for the season. With the game on the line how the HELL do you put a guy up with the lowest (non Pitcher) batting average on the team???? You Suck Davey

Davey again looked like he didn't know his team. Let's not blow it all out of porportion as the offense was good and the defense was GREAT.This is one of those games the Manager lost I am afraid to say.

We could just get the 100th caller next time ……should we get the pitcher who is suddenly throwing BP out and get one of other relief pictchers in …NAHHHHH lets see if we can blow a 8 RUN LEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a reason you do not take high hangers. Pena and DeWhitt showed you why high hangers are easy to deposit into the audience. Werth takes them all the time. Please watch the film Jayson,. High hangers are easy to produce good hits. low breaking pitches are almost impossible to hit, and those are the ones you swing at. Why?

The answer to gut-wrenching pitching is really good pitching. At Syracuse tonight, Tom Milone threw 7 scoreless innings. He won his 7th game and dropped his ERA to 3.15. He has 107 strikeouts and 7 walks.At Hagerstown, A.J. Cole threw 6 scoreless innings and dropped his ERA to 2.87. He has 57 strikeouts and 10 walks.Breathe deep and look for the cavalry riding over the horizon: Strasburg, Peacock, Milone, Cole, Ray.The Nats are not there yet, but they're going to be really good.

I am SO PISSED!!! 9-0 in the 5th. Livo gives up 6 runs. DJ, why didn't you take him out after three runs had scored? That's why we have a bull pen!!! No…you left him in to get 6 runs. That sad sack reliever Burnett gives up two more. Does DJ really know the pitching staff? Don't think so… Sorry but Livo and Burnett need to go. A long with Stares. I really wanted this game for our Boys…

That was no fun. Just heard this was the biggest lead we have EVER let slip away, not just in Nationals history but also including the EXPOs.Agree that Cora (or even Pudge) would have been a better choice than Stairs who honestly is no choice right now. Also don't know why HRod was back for a 2nd inning. With Detwiler up doesn't that leave us a man short in the pen? if he is only going to throw every 4th or 5th game why keep him up?Think the Rockies have lost at least 4 in a row so lets hope we can keep them reeling.Go Nats

Jayson Werth gave a good post-game interview after the game. He put it in perspective. No panic.The bullpen is overworked which is why Livo stayed in too long.I think Burnett needs to go on the DL and fix what is physically wrong with him. When Burnett goes on the DL you can call Balester back up and he becomes your long man to free up Detwiler to be a key set-up man and take pressure off of Clippard.Stairs needs to go on the DL and never return and get Chris Marrero here.

First 87 games Stairs 1 RBI. Mix about 30 some Cora a few. Let's pick Stair? What is the thought process on that? I am coming home from the game I hope someone asked him in the press conference, instead of all those stupid questions Debbi Taylor asks. That is the one I want to know.

I would like someone to tell me if they can think of a worse job of managing in the 7 seasons of the Nationals then was on display tonight. I can not think of it so for my anger can someone tell of one other. REALLY I WANT TO KNOW

If not Marrero who other posters think needs to play every day who? There has to be someone in our organization. What about Antonelli? I am guessing that when Stairs goes off the 40 man that will free a spot for him or the guy who played with the Orioles last year, I think its Aubrey. Someone who can actually play a position and actually hit the ball would be really nice.

Burnett is becoming a puppet on his interviews. "I t was a hanging slider…." Who hung it? Why hang so many?I missed Davy's comments as I was typing here. Did he ever pearls of wisdom to why they lost, and why he batted Stairs. I believe he actually wanted to prove to Rizzo that he (Stairs) has to go.

Good lord, people are certainly going ballistic at an admittedly frustrating loss, which leaves the Nats at only one game above .500, and having only taken the Cubs series 3 games out of 4.All you folks who are talking about this being the worst baseball experience since the Nats came to town: really? Have you forgotten 2008? 2009?There's a reason the Nats got to draft Strasburg and Harper (and Storen): they were the worst team in baseball two years in a row.Go to bed, people. When you wake up tomorrow the Nats will still be one game above .500 and will be getting ready for a series against the Rockies.

CBinDC, do you hold something against Davey? I think you are being too harsh on the guy. Yes, he is mainly responsible for the loss. But none of our pitchers were spot on to begin with. Yes, he managed this possible win to a loss with having Stairs up. But after his first walk-off hit, even I thought maybe he has turned the corner and deserves few more chances. I just hope Davey knows what he is doing.@the guy who suggested we get rid of Livo, his ERA before that sixth inning was 3.73 (league average I think) and still is a respectable 4.01. Not sure what is wrong with Burnett. Our bullpen is being used too often so ASG can not come sooner.

When your up 8-0, the manager just needs to manage the momentum, and stop it really quick if it starts the other way. Number 1 job. I didn't see any urgency to slow the momentum. Granted Quade was just as bad in the third inning. It doesn't take rocket science to understand how momendum works. Slowing down doesn't mean necessarily moving someone one, but Ramos needs to go out and settle down the pitcher. Morse or Zim need to come in. Didn't see much of that.Did you notice after Ankiel got hit. Pena immediately was at the mound. He understands slowing momendum.Watched Stairs pop up again. It was a hanging slider. That should have been a piece of cake to drive. What on earth happened there. he simple swung to low.

We could have the combined genius of the best 5 managers in MLB history as our manager, and if we lost, he'd be a horrible manager.We could have a rock as a manager, and if we won, he'd be headed to the Hall of Fame for his managing exploits.

@N. Cognito: We could have the combined genius of the best 5 managers in MLB history as our manager, and if we lost, he'd be a horrible manager. We could have a rock as a manager, and if we won, he'd be headed to the Hall of Fame for his managing exploits."+1. Comment of the day.

Burnett will either go on the DL or get Pattersoned by the A-S break. C'mon, Yanks, give us a bag of balls for this guy.And, again, I say: Stares is harder to get rid of than Athlete's Foot in a sauna.Where's all the "accountability" everybody was yakking about in ST?

DaveWorst experience? Not even close.Worst loss? Statistically, maybe so.According to fangraphs, the Nats win expectancy was 99.6% after Livo recorded the 2d out of the 6th. But they somehow managed to seize that 4 tenths of 1 percent chance out of the jaws of victory.That takes some doin'.

Where have I heard that kind of win expectancy before? Oh, right, in the 9th inning against Seattle when the Mariners were at (or above) that number. But we won that one.Yes, DJ blew it tonight. Yes, it sucks. That's baseball. 162 game season, it happens.

I think some here are missing the point.If it were possible, your points would be valid if all the right things were done and you still lost the 8-run lead. I don't know if it's possible to do all the right things and lose an 8-run lead though.The problem is there were some glaring pivot points in this game that could have saved it. You have to line up a lot of wrong things to lose an 8-run lead and nobody stopped those things from happening and a lot of us think it could have been done.

Dave, thanks for a touch of sanity. I just got home from the game,which was stunning to lose, but still very entertaining. There's a lot of if's about this game, but one thing I saw from my seats in 311 is it sure looked like Johnson and McCatty were in a heated exchange when Burnett hung that 1st pitch to Pena. Also, things are not looking good with Pudge tonight. He may go on the DL, so are we seeing a Norris in our near future? One last note, I said on an earlier blog that Wang may be a wild card for the Nats after the All Star break and was called out on it by an anon, asking me who he'd replace. J-Zimm will be phased down and Marquis getting traded is almost even money. Wang looked very good tonight by all accounts. I wish him nothing but good luck and truly hope that we have something in him that is close to what he was with the Yankees.

The thing that's becoming very clear is that this team has a tough time playing with a lead. Blown saves, close 1-run games. While I love my Nats, they make it very frustrating with their inability to grab the opportunities (and scoring opportunities) when they present themselves. Do they lack the killer instinct?